TRANSEPIPHYSEAL FRACTURE OF THE FEMORAL NECK WITH DISLOCATION OF THE FEMORAL HEAD AND FRACTURE OF THE POSTERIOR COLUMN OF THE ACETABULUM IN A CHILD

Favorable Outcome Twenty-Two Months after Delbet Type Ib Capital Femoral Transepiphyseal Fracture and Posterior Column Acetabular Fracture in a Fifteen-Year-Old Male

Case

A fifteen-year-old male patient sustained a posteriorly dislocated right capital femoral Delbet type Ib epiphyseal fracture-separation and a right acetabular posterior column fracture after a low-energy trip and fall. The capital femoral epiphysis was closed reduced and fixed with cannulated screws on an urgent basis. He underwent acetabular osteosynthesis via a Kocher-Langenbeck approach two days thereafter. Twenty-two months after injury, he was weight-bearing on the right lower extremity without radiologic evidence of avascular necrosis or clinical evidence of pain or functional deficit.

Conclusion

Fracture-separation of the capital femoral epiphysis comprises only 8% of skeletally immature femoral neck fractures in the Delbet and Colonna classification. Prognosis is worse with ipsilateral hip dislocation due to the risk of avascular necrosis from disruption of the medial femoral circumflex artery. Urgent referral to a trauma center and treatment by appropriate specialists enables good long-term results after this uncommon traumatic injury pattern.

Fractures of the Proximal Femur in Childhood: A Review

BACKGROUND

Femoral neck fractures in children are rare injuries, occurring due to high-energy trauma. Due to the unique anatomy and blood supply of the proximal femur in growing children, these fractures are notorious for high rates of complications despite appropriate management. Classification of these fractures is according to the Delbet system, which not only guides management but also gives prognostic clues. Multiple fixation methods have been described and there is no consensus on what constitutes the best treatment. Osteonecrosis, non-union, coxa vara and premature physeal arrest are the most frequent complications.

PURPOSE

To review the current knowledge, discuss controversial aspects, and provide suggestions for future research.

METHODS

We have reviewed the literature on paediatric proximal femur fractures and have provided an evidence-based guide to the diagnosis and management of these injuries. Common complications have been elaborated and options for their prevention and/or management discussed.

CONCLUSION

There is universal agreement that anatomic reduction and stable internal fixation, supplemented by spica immobilization in younger children, are essential to obtain good outcomes. The role of capsular decompression, choice and configuration of implant, and appropriate timing of surgery are aspects that continue to be debated. Multicenter prospective studies are necessary to standardize treatment of these challenging injuries.

Adolescent Hip Dislocation Combined With Proximal Femoral Physeal Fractures and Epiphysiolysis

BACKGROUND

The risks and long-term effects of acute hip dislocation combined with proximal femoral physeal fractures and epiphysiolysis have been minimally addressed in the literature. This infrequent combination must be understood to avoid the major complications of complete separation of proximal femoral components during attempted reduction and to predict the probable outcome of surgical treatment.

METHODS

Medical records and imaging were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients with a diagnosis of severe to complete slipped capital femoral epiphysis (CFE) or proximal femoral epiphysiolysis in association with hip dislocation. The focus included possible anatomic/vascular disruption and their consequences.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were identified. Nine dislocations were posterior; 3 were anterior. In 4 patients, the intact proximal femur was dislocated posteriorly. In 3 patients only the femoral neck was reduced, whereas the CFE remained dislocated. In 1 patient percutaneous pinning was done in the dislocated position before closed reduction. The reduction was successful. In 7 patients only the CFE (4 patients) or femoral neck (3 patients) was displaced at the initial presentation in the emergency room. One patient presented with posterior dislocation associated with complete separation of both components. Ten patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation. Two patients had closed reduction. Nine patients developed complete avascular necrosis, progressive collapse of the femoral head, and degenerative arthritis. Three subsequently had a total hip arthroplasty. One patient developed ischemic change limited to the femoral neck and a nonunion through the epiphysis. One patient had incomplete ischemic necrosis. Only 1 patient had no evidence of ischemic necrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This combination of injuries has several anatomic variations. Leaving the CFE dislocated while reducing only the femoral neck must be avoided. Reduction should be done in the operating room with muscle relaxation. The emergency room is not the venue for reduction. The risk of avascular necrosis is extremely high, whether the separation occurs during the acute dislocation or attempted reduction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV-case series (retrospective review).

A transepiphyseal fracture of the femoral neck in a child with 2 widely displaced Salter-Harris III fragments of the capital femoral epiphysis

To our knowledge, this is the first report of a transphyseal fracture of the femoral neck with a fracture of the capital femoral epiphysis involving 2 widely displaced Salter-Harris III fragments in a child. Preoperative surgical lateral radiographs of the hip of a 14-year-old boy clearly showed an anteriorly dislocated femoral head fragment. However, the overlapping ischium, soft tissue, and an anteriorly dislocated femoral head fragment caused a posteriorly dislocated fragment of the split femoral head to be overlooked on the radiographs. The emergent nature of the injury resulted in the performance of an open reduction without further imaging studies. Based on the initial evaluation, an anterior iliofemoral approach was chosen, which made it difficult to locate the posteriorly dislocated main fragment of the split femoral head. This case highlights that plain radiographs do not always provide adequate information for such injuries. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging should be employed to enable accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment for fracture-dislocations of the pediatric hip.

An occult acetabular fracture preceding a femoral neck fracture

This article describes the case of a 69-year-old patient with an occult acetabular fracture complicated by an ipsilateral femoral neck fracture occurring within 2 months. The acetabular fracture remained undiagnosed at examination due to insufficient clinical and radiographic data interpretation. The patient was assured of early mobilization that led to a fall and subsequent hip fracture. We focus on the potential reasons for the nondiagnosis of the acetabular fracture. Acetabular fractures in the elderly may occur after low-energy injuries. The lack of history of violent injury may lead to an incorrect diagnosis. Plain anteroposterior (AP) pelvis radiographs alone may prove an insufficient tool, especially in the hands of inexperienced personnel. As is characteristic, a retrospective review of the AP pelvis radiograph obtained after the first fall in our case revealed the undisplaced fracture of the anterior column that was missed initially. Combined fractures of the hip and the acetabulum are rarely described in the literature and are usually addressed by total hip arthroplasty (THA) alone. Similar fracture patterns that develop in 2 stages (2 injuries), as the 1 presented herein, are even more rare. The uniqueness of this combined fracture required a unique surgical treatment. The senior surgeon (P.V.G.) addressed the acetabular fracture separately to graft the anterior column fracture and facilitate union, as it was already 8 weeks old and the second fall had generated a further gap between the fragments. Stable fixation was felt appropriate prior to the THA. Thus, a double surgical approach was used. Six weeks postoperatively, the patient was able to perform full weight-bearing mobilization without an antalgic gait pattern. At 6-month follow-up, radiographs showed the metalwork to be in place with no displacement, and the fracture had progressed to union.

Traumatic transepiphyseal separation of the upper femoral epiphysis following seizures in two children with cerebral palsy

Transepiphyseal separation of the neck of the femur following grand mal seizures is described in two children with cerebral palsy. Closed reduction and percutaneous fixation was followed by a period in a hip spica. Although the incidence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head is high following such injury, this has not occurred in these patients at a follow-up of 18 months.

A transepiphyseal fracture of the proximal femur combined with a fracture of the mid-shaft of ipsilateral femur in a child: a case report and literature review

The paper describes a rare fracture of proximal femur, classified by Delbet (Am J Surg 6:793-797, 1929) as type I (transepiphyseal type) combined with a fracture of the midshaft of ipsilateral femur in a 2-year-old child. Immediate operation with open reduction and internal fixation was successful. During the postoperative course, avascular necrosis (AVN) of capital femoral epiphysis was seen by bone scan. Applying an abduction orthosis used for the treatment of Legg-Calvè-Perthes disease, collapse of capital epiphysis was prevented. Although, a minimal area of AVN and coxa vara remained, no clinical complaints were recorded at the midterm follow-up. While reviewing the relevant literature, the type-I fractures need to be subclassified into two types for appropriate treatment and/or prediction of outcomes based on their anatomic location of the separated femoral capital epiphysis. In type Ia, femoral capital epiphysis is minimally displaced and within the acetabulum and in type Ib it is widely displaced and lying outside the capsule. Our case is a first case of a type Ib fracture of the proximal femur combined with a fracture of the midshaft of ipsilateral femur. Since the complication rate and the prognosis differed between two subclasses, type-Ib fractures need immediate surgical intervention, our case was prevented from massive AVN. And to prevent the collapse of femoral head following AVN, a major complication of the fracture of proximal femur in child, abduction orthosis is recommended as a choice of treatment.

Pediatric fractures and dislocations of the hip and pelvis

Recognition of an unstable pelvic fracture or a significant hip injury in children is important. Clinical assessment plays a valuable role as does the judicious use of imaging modalities in determining the most effective form of treatment, but the routine use of the standard AP pelvic radiograph is questioned. The concept of age and skeletal maturity has been re-evaluated, allowing the appropriate identification of cases that would benefit from an aggressive operative approach. A dual-tier approach to the treatment of pediatric pelvic trauma is suggested with an appreciation that there is no substantial evidence base for the surgical treatment of most injuries. Displaced femoral neck fractures and injuries to the hip joint that damage the articular or physeal cartilages require careful assessment and prompt and careful reduction and stabilization.